Football Federation Australia (FFA) has today released the names of the Match Officials that will control matches during the upcoming Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League and Foxtel National Youth League competitions.

Referee Kurt Ams returns to the Hyundai A-League Referees panel, four years since his last appointment, having worked his way back through the PS4 National Premier League. Ams will be joined on the panel by Jonathan Barreiro, who made his debut last season, and Daniel Elder both of whom have been promoted from the Hyundai A-League Fourth Official panel.

New Zealand FIFA Assistant Referee Sarah Jones becomes the fifth female to officiate in the Hyundai A-League following her appointment to the Hyundai A-League Assistant Referees Panel.

Ben Abraham is the only new addition to the Hyundai A-League Fourth Officials Panel.

In the Westfield W-League Avrol Beecham returns to the Assistant Referees Panel and will be joined by debutants Danielle Potticary from Queensland and Lauren Hargrave from Tasmania. Rebecca Davies joins the Westfield W-League Fourth Officials Panel.

FFA Director of Referees Ben Wilson congratulated all the match officials on their selection for the coming seasons.

"I’m very pleased with the team we have selected in both the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League. It’s a mixture of experience and youth. I’d like to give special congratulations to the match officials who have been selected on the panel for the first time."

Members of the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League panel met earlier this month at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra as they finalise preparations for the coming season with a range of theoretical lectures and practical refereeing sessions. In particular the implementation of the amendments to the Laws of the Game that have been introduced by the International Football Advisory Board (IFAB) and FIFA.

"The match officials have been performing well on Westfield FFA Cup and pre-season matches and are about to conclude their pre-season training program. I’m confident that we will continue our strong performances throughout the upcoming season."